December 1994 — 1995-02-01

Unemployment rates were lower in December 1994 than a month earlier in 27 states, higher in 16 states and the District of Columbia, and unchanged in 7 states, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The national unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, compared with 5.6 percent in November. Nonfarm payroll employment rose in 28 states over the month. New York and South Carolina had the largest declines in their unemployment rates from November to December, both dropping by 0.9 percentage point. Three other states--Illinois, North Carolina, and Rhode Island--had decreases of 0.8 percentage point over the month. Idaho reported the largest over-the-month increase, from 5.7 to 6.4 percent. Nebraska had the lowest unemployment rate among the states, 2.7 percent, and 16 other states registered unemployment rates of less than 4.4 percent. At 8.3 percent, West Virginia had the highest unemployment rate in December, followed by Alaska at 7.8 percent.